Wind-powered air/water interface craft having various wing angles and configurations

Abstract

A wind powered air/water interface craft disposed in a mechanically simple configuration(s) with means for trimming and/or adjusting the area of the various air and water foil elements either independently or together or both. All of its structural elements are useful as lifting or-driving surfaces or buoyant elements thereby minimizing parasitic drag and conflicting forces. In some configurations, free flight is also possible for brief periods of time or for longer periods in conditions where dynamic soaring is possible. The rig is able to develop vertical lift before necessarily having forward motion. Although similar in some configurations to a windsurfer, its operation is not dependent on the strength of the human operator, so that it has the capacity for power and payload greater than the strength and weight of the operator. The triangle rig configuration of the invention may develop vertical lift, but may in some instances use vertical lift only to enhance dynamic stability of a displacement craft. A wide beam single hull ship uses triangle rig sails to augment the ship's engines.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A wind-powered air-water interface craft, comprising: 
       a single hull ship having a deck;  
       at least one pair of correspondingly canted wing sails having a respective port sail and a starboard sail thereof, the sails being mounted on a mounting structure constructed and arranged to provide variation in trim of the sails;  
       support structure associated with each pair of wing sails, the support structure constructed and arranged to supportively interconnect the respective port and starboard sails of each pair at at least one level on each sail, above the deck and to pivotally support each of the respective port and starboard sails of each pair along longitudinal axes thereof.  
     
     
       2. A wind-powered air-water interface craft according to  claim 1 , wherein a wind turbine generator is disposed at an upper end of at least one pair of wing sails. 
     
     
       3. A wind-powered air-water interface craft according to  claim 1 , wherein a crane is mounted at an upper end of at least one pair of wing sails. 
     
     
       4. A wind-powered air-water interface craft according to  claim 1 , wherein a platform is disposed at the top of at least one pair of wing sails. 
     
     
       5. A wind-powered air-water interface craft according to  claim 1 , wherein a wind turbine generator is disposed on the platform. 
     
     
       6. A wind-powered air-water interface craft according to  claim 4 , wherein a crane is mounted on the platform. 
     
     
       7. A wind-powered air-water interface craft, comprising: 
       a single hulled ship having a deck;  
       at least one pair of correspondingly canted wing sails having respective port and starboard sails thereof respectively, the sails being mounted on a mounting structure constructed and arranged to provide variation in trim of the sails;  
       support structure associated with each pair of wing sails, the support structure constructed and arranged to supportively interconnect the respective port and starboard sails of each pair at at least one level on each sail, above the deck and to pivotally support each of the respective port and starboard sails of each pair along longitudinal axes thereof;  
       the wing sails of each pair tapering in leading edge to trailing edge horizontal dimension with increasing distance above the deck.  
     
     
       8. A wind-powered air-water interface craft, comprising: 
       a single hull ship having a deck;  
       at least one pair of correspondingly canted wing sails having a respective port sail and a starboard sail thereof, the sails being mounted on a mounting structure constructed and arranged to provide variation in trim of the sails;  
       support structure associated with each pair of wing sails, the support structure constructed and arranged to supportively interconnect the respective port and starboard sails of each pair at at least one level on each sail, above the deck;  
       wherein a wind turbine generator is disposed at an upper end of at least one pair of wing sails.  
     
     
       9. A wind-powered air-water interface craft, comprising: 
       a single hull ship having a deck;  
       at least one pair of correspondingly canted wing sails having a respective port sail and a starboard sail thereof, the sails being mounted on a mounting structure constructed and arranged to provide variation in trim of the sails;  
       support structure associated with each pair of wing sails, the support structure constructed and arranged to supportively interconnect the respective port and starboard sails of each pair at at least one level on each sail, above the deck;  
       wherein a crane is mounted at an upper end of at least one pair of wing sails.  
     
     
       10. A wind-powered air-water interface craft, comprising: 
       a single hull ship having a deck;  
       at least one pair of correspondingly canted wing sails having a respective port sail and a starboard sail thereof, the sails being mounted on a mounting structure constructed and arranged to provide variation in trim of the sails;  
       support structure associated with each pair of wing sails, the support structure constructed and arranged to supportively interconnect the respective port and starboard sails of each pair at at least one level on each sail, above the deck;  
       wherein a platform is disposed at the top of at least one pair of wing sails.  
     
     
       11. A wind-powered air-water interface craft according to  claim 10 , wherein a wind turbine generator is disposed on the platform. 
     
     
       12. A wind-powered air-water interface craft according to  claim 10 , wherein a crane is mounted on the platform.